Come and listen to the 24-year-old who knows everything there is to know about life, said nobody ever.
As an opening to a piece, that would make most people want to turn and run.
What can someone with that much of a lack of life experience, and no particular problems teach me about life?
Recent generations have had no true hardship to deal with, how can this guy know anything about a hard life?
I think the difference between myself and others, is I admit I don’t.
But, in this modern world full of distractions, I’ve found a way personal to me, that helps me be happy.
And I’m clinging onto that, and I’d like to share with others how I do this.
Just in case there’s something useful for even one person out there.
I called this piece the death because most people die twice. Most die for the first time in their mid-20s.
This death is the dream death.
It coincides with the time when you give up on your true dreams.
From an outside point of view, I look quite dead. Not completely. But it could appear to others as if I’ve died for the first time.
This is why we don’t need to compare ourselves to others.
The outside point of view doesn’t become an issue in our lives that we focus on.
I live cheaply.
I get to wake up slowly.
I’m proud of the work I put out.
And the job I do is a means to an end.
A means that allows me to do this and meet all the needs in my life financially.
These financial needs are small anyway because I live a simple life.
I focus on experiences, connection, and deep conversations.
Not seeking pleasure.
With pleasure, the highs are equally as strong as the lows.
This level of volatility isn’t worth it.
I don’t experience conditional happiness.
“I’ll be happy when I reach this point”.
“I’ll sit and enjoy life when I’m a millionaire”.
Be unconditionally happy.
Recognise that what you have, in this present moment, could be enough.
And that you are enough.
In a simple life, consistency is key.
The happiness level of a person fluctuates less.
And through understanding yourself, you can raise the average level of happiness you experience.
Weekly reflection, journalling, principles, and mental models.
The list of strategies to understand yourself is extensive.
I’ll explain my favourite ones over the following weeks.
So, compare yourself less to others.
Beat yourself from yesterday, not others.
Understand yourself.
And don’t be scared to pursue what you love, regardless of what others think.
I hope this could give someone the courage to do something brave (without being impulsive!).
Try to find something you love.
Most people don’t and I find that quite sad.
Let’s change our lives, so we only die once.
Next week, I’ll discuss how we can turn our dreams, into goals. From fiction to reality.
Song of the Week
I’ve recently been in a very funky period in my music listening. Parcels are the greatest band on the planet, and this song just layers and builds wonderfully from the start.
I also want to search for funky, happy-sounding music. One day, I’d love to open a bar, and that’s the exact sound I’d want it to have. So here’s the song of the week for this week:
Stumble - By Kraak and Smaak (Ft. Parcels)
Soundcloud:
YouTube:
Spotify:
Thanks for reading! Follow here on Substack for these posts to be sent directly to your inbox. I’m aware I know very little about life. But if one thing I write helps one person, then it’s worth it to me. Hope you have a great Sunday!